Summary
A copper semis denomination coin from the town of Uxentum in Italy, circa 200 BC
Mint: not recorded
Obverse Description
Bust of Athena facing right wearing helmet, below (on its side) S (the denomination mark). Appears to have a spear in front of Athena
Reverse Description
Herakles standing left holding club on ground with right hand and a cornucopia and lion's skin in left. In field to right an S and on left in Greek OXAN
Edge Description
Plain
Significance
UXENTUM (Uxentinus: Ugento), a town of Calabria, in the territory of the Sallentines, situated about 5 miles from the seacoast, and 16 from the Iapygian Promontory (Capo di Leuca). It is mentioned by both Pliny and Ptolemy among the inland towns which they assign to the Sallentines, and is placed by the Tabula on the road from Tarentum to the extremity of the peninsula. (Plin. Nat. 3.11. s. 16; Ptol. 3.1.76; Tab. Peut.) ... The site is clearly marked by the modern town of Ugento ... Many tombs also have been found there, in which coins, vases, and inscriptions in the Messapian dialect have been discovered.
(Source: http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0064%3Aalphabetic+letter%3DU%3Aentry+group%3D10%3Aentry%3Duxentum-geo)
More Information
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Collection Names
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Collecting Areas
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Acquisition Information
Transfer from National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), 15 Mar 1976
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Date Issued
circa 200 BC
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Issued By
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Previous Collection
Eugene von Guerard, Melbourne, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, pre 1880
Listed in Eugene von Guerard's catalogue, vol.1, p.8. Acquired by Eugene von Guerard from Friedlander of Berlin. Previous note says "Found in the NGV safe, about 1904. Does not come from Eugene von Guerard and no earlier record of this piece has yet been found." -
Deity Depicted
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Denomination
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Material
Copper
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Axis
10
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Classification
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Category
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Discipline
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Type of item
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Dimensions
17 mm (Outside Diameter), 4.862 g (Weight)
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Shape
Round
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References
BMC. Italy p. 220 no. 6 Sear.611
[Book] Poole, Reginald S. 1873. A Catalogue of the Greek Coins in the British Museum, Italy., 220 Pages
[Catalogue] Pullin, Ruth. 2011. Nature Revealed: Eugene von Guerard.
[Book] Sear, David R. 1978. Greek Coins and Their Values, Europe. I., 65 Pages
